Generating SMB Service Response Time Statistics using Ethereal

Generating SMB Service Response Time Statistics with the Ethereal Protocol Analyzer.

Ethereal includes a useful feature that lets you generate statistics about the Server Message Block (SMB) Service Response Times, the minimum, maximum and average, as well as details of the Procedures called and Sub-Commands.

SMB is a protocol widely used by Microsoft Windows machines to allow the sharing of network resources, including file and printer sharing, as well as mail slots and named pipes. All Microsoft Windows machines are capable of running SMB.

SMB is a Client-Server and request-response protocol. Servers make resources available to the Clients on the network. In general Clients make requests and Servers respond.

Generating Statistics

Step 1 Run Ethereal to capture packets, or open an existing trace file.

Step 2 Click Tools, Statistics, Service Response Time, SMB.

Step 3 Click Create Stat.

An SMB Service Response Time statistics box appears.

Arranging the Lists

Click on a heading to rearrange the lists.

Adjusting Column Widths

To adjust the width of a column position the cursor on the edge of a column heading so that the cursor shape changes to a double headed arrow. Hold the left mouse button and drag to the required width.

Column Headings

Index is the number (in decimal) of the Procedure. This value is shown in hex in the packet decode.
Procedure is the Procedure name. Procedures include opening, reading, writing, locking, unlocking, and closing files.
Min SRT is the shortest response time.
Max SRT is the longest response time.
Avg SRT is the average of all the response times.